Foldable partition.



C. W. ELLWOOD.

FOLDABLE PARTITION.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ' 19m.

Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON, D. c.

FOLDABLE PARTITION.

minim.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, mm.

Applicationfiled August 1, 1914. Serial No. 854,568. r i

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. ELL- wooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vermont, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Foldable Partitions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in foldable partitions, doors, or gates, for use in closing or covering openings or doorways, occurring in barns, stables, fences, houses, or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a partition which is convenient in use, and may be readily folded and swung in the folded condition to the open position, to occupy the minimum space.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the foldable partition may be bodily permanently vertically adjusted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a partition or door of the above mentioned character, having latch means for retaining the same closed and also serving to reinforce the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, showing the partition or door in the lowered position, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the partition or door in a slightly raised position, Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 41-4 of Fig. 2, and, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the foldable partition or door in the folded condition, swung out of the opening.

In the drawings, wherein the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a supporting structure, having an opening or passage therethrough. For the sake of illustration this supporting structure is shown as a frame, such as a door frame, While it is to be understood that the invention is in no sense restricted to the employment of this frame, as the invention may be used in connection with a partition or wall of a building, the posts of a fence, or the like. The supporting structure comprises upstanding or vertical beams or posts 12 and 13, connected by upper and lower horizontal beams 1 1 and 15, as shown.

The numeral 16 designates my improved foldable partition or door, as a whole. This foldable partition comprises up er and lower hinge members or hinges 1 which are identical. Each hinge member comprises a plurality of hinge-sections 18, which divide the foldable partition into sections. The hinge-sections 18, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5, are provided at their opposite ends with apertured oppositely extending cranks or extensions 19, the cranks or extensions of the several hinge-sections 18 being pivotally connected by bolts 20 or the like. In this construction, alternate hinge-sections 18 are preferably foldable in opposite directions, as shown.

The corresponding hinge-sections 18 in each transverse pair are connected by a member or plank 21, as shown. It is obvious that each member or plank 21, together with the hinge-sections 18 attached thereto, constitute a foldable section or partition. Instead of employing solid members or bars 21, I may replace the same by a plurality of spaced rods, pipes or the like. I wish it to be understood that when I refer to partitionsections in the claims, such term is explicitly employed to also cover this form of the invention.

The numeral 22 designates a vertically arranged preferably cylindrical pivot rod, receiving thereon apertured extensions 23, formed upon adj acent hinge-sections 18, these hinge-sections not being provided with the cranks 19 at that end. The extensions 23 afford a pivot connection between the adjacent hinge-sections 18 and the vertical pivot rod 22, whereby the foldable partition may be bodily swung in a horizontal plane, whether extended or folded.

In order that the foldable partition may be vertically adjusted to swing in dilferent horizontal planes, I arrange a supporting sleeve 21 upon the vertical pivot rod 22, said supporting sleeve being arranged below and engaging the lower extension 23.

This supporting sleeve is longitudinally movably mounted upon the pivot rod 22, and is clamped thereto in adjustment at the desired vertical position a bolt 25 or the or sections 21 preferably near and outwardly of the pivot 29, to receive the inner portion of the latch-bar section 27 as shown; Secured to theouter member or section 21 is a horizontally arranged staple or U-shaped bracket 33, adapted to receive a depending I tongue 34, rigidly secured to the latch-bar section 27, as shown. The outer end of the latch-bar section 27 is provided with a laterally extending opening 35, to receive a stationary staple 36 or the like permanently secured to the post, 13, adapted to receive a cotter-pin 37 or like member.

By the construction of my latch-bar and associated elements, the foldable partition may be permanently vertically adjusted by vertically adjusting the supporting sleeve 24, without disturbing the stationary staple 36 or the like, the latch-bar section 27 swinging upon the pivot 29', as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. When the latch-bar 26 is in the operative horizontal position," as shownin Fig. 1, the same not only retains the partition closed but substantially laterally ,reinforces the same. It is obvious'that the foldable partition may be readily moved to the open position by removing the element 37, and swinging the latch-bar section 27 upwardly, to draw the tongue 34 out of the staple 33 and remove the latch-bar section 27 out of the bracket 32. The latch-bar may be then collapsed or folded, and the partition folded, such latch-bar being arranged solely upon the, member or section upon which the same is pivoted.

In Fig.2, the partition is shown as elevated, the latch-bar 26 bending at point 29, whereby the staple 36 need not be disturbed.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,

size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure, a foldable partition pivotally connected therewith to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, a latch-bar pivotally connected with the pivoted end of the foldable partition, means detachably connecting the latcl1-bar with the free end of the foldable partition, and means detachably connecting the free end of the latch-bar with the supporting structure.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure, a foldable partition pivotally connected therewith to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, a latch-bar formed of pivoted outer and inner sections, means to pivotally connect the free end of the inner section to the pivoted end of the foldable partition, means to detachably connect the free end of the outer section with the 'free end of the foldable partition, and means to detachably connect the free end of the outer section to the supporting structure.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure, a foldable partition pivotally connected therewith and embodying a plurality of horizontally swinging sections, means for permanently vertically adjusting the foldable partition, a combined latch-bar and brace arranged upon one side of the foldable partition and formed in a plurality of members pivoted together to swing in a substantially vertical plane with one member pivoted to swing in a substantially vertical plane with the pivoted end of the foldable partition, means detachably connecting the other. member with the free end of the foldable partition, and means for detachably connecting the free end of the last named member with the supporting structure.

4.-. In apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure, a foldable partition pivotally connected therewith to swing in a substantially horizontal plane and embodying a plurality of horizontally swinging sections, means for permanently vertically adjusting the foldable partition, a combined latch-bar and brace arranged upon one side of the foldable partition and formed in a plurality of members pivoted together at their inner ends to swing in a substantially vertical plane with one member pivoted to the pivoted end of the foldable partition to swing in a substantially vertical plane, a depending tongue carried by the outer portion of the other member, a bracket secured to the free end of the foldable partition and adapted to receive the de- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature plendifngdtfigue, a secondbbracket sefiured 30 in presence of two Witnesses. t e 01 e e partition etween t e en s thereof to removably receive the last named CLARENCE ELLWOOD 5 member, and means to detachably connect Witnesses:

the free end of the last named member with A. G. MIcHELsoN, the supporting structure. ERICK E. HUsTAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

